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Falkirk-based bus builder Alexander Dennis has secured a new £30 million order from FirstGroup.

The order is for 117 new vehicles in total, comprising single, double decker and midi buses.

Aberdeen-based FirstGroup has placed new vehicle orders worth £77.7 million in total for 385 new vehicles, with Northern Ireland firm Wrightbus awarded a 248 bus order.

FirstGroup said 90 per cent of the overall bus order will be fitted with the low emission Euro 6 standard diesel engines.

Colin Robertson, chief executive of Alexander Dennis, said the latest contract continues a “long-established and thriving relationship with FirstGroup”.

He added: “This latest order is a huge endorsement of our new-generation, market-leading midi and double deck buses and a further demonstration of FirstGroup's commitment to the green technologies of tomorrow.”

Giles Fearnley, managing director of First Bus, said: “This is great news for First Bus customers across the UK.

“In five years we’ve invested around £385 million in new vehicles.

“Our £77.7 million investment this year underlines our continuing determination to provide ever better bus services for our customers and reflects the increasing passenger numbers that we are seeing across First Bus.

“I’m delighted the overwhelming majority of our new vehicles will be fitted with Euro 6 engines.

“The advances in engineering are remarkable and our investment represents one of the most environmentally friendly bus orders ever placed.

“I’m proud that our Euro 6 order is the largest on record in the UK so far and will support efforts from our local authority partners to improve air quality in towns and cities across the UK.”